Insect dog food

[Greengreen88]

Anyone’s pooch tried it? Verdict?

[Greengreen88]

One more try!

[Fucksandflowers]

[BiteyShark]

Haven't tried it and I don't think I would tbh just because I feed plenty of different meat proteins anyway which I know he likes.

BiteyDog gets enough insect protein anyway from grazing in the garden

[twoheaped]

Nope and I won't be trying it.

[kjhkj]

Its an interesting idea and certainly better for the planet. I haven't seen it anywhere though.

[BrokenWing]

No I wouldn't feed my dog food made from insect larvae/maggots.

[billybagpuss]

I seem to remember seeing a taster, then having a heart attack at the price!, we use canagan so are used to expensive but this was in a whole different league.

[kjhkj]

No I wouldn't feed my dog food made from insect larvae/maggots.

Thats a slightly strange view given that dogs eat all sorts of stuff anyway and we might all be eating insect protein in decades to come.

[Wolfiefan]

Is this an ad?
No. Haven’t tried it and no I won’t.

[Greengreen88]

Definitely not an ad! Bit scared to try it, just wondering if anyone else has!

[Wolfiefan]

I can guess what my dog would think. So no.

[PinkBlossomInSummer]

That’s a no from me.

[PinkBlossomInSummer]

I do think you’re trying to advertise this btw.

[Greengreen88]

I can see why you’d think that, because of the link, but I promise I’m not! I can get MN to take down the link. I actually think the reviews on there seem a little too ravey to be real, which is why I’m looking elsewhere for opinions.

And there’s nothing much out there on the internet, apart from the odd press-release piece in a few newspapers, hence this thread.

I do think it seems like a great idea in theory. I just don’t know how healthy or tasty it is for dogs.

[Branster]

Why are you asking OP? Is it something you’d consider for your own dog?
I must admit the concept doesn’t appeal to me. As a rule, if my dog is happy eating what it is currently being fed and is fit, slim, healthy, coat in good condition and so on, there is no reason to change its diet.
And I would never subject my dog to experimenting with novelty foods.

[Branster]

I thought the title was about an insect found in the dog’s food

[Greengreen88]

I read that pets eat something like 20% of the world’s meat and fish production, which means pet food is responsible for 20% of the industry's environmental impact. Insect dog food is meant to solve that problem.

I have majorly cut down on my own meat consumption (veggie at home, only eat meat out on special occasions or that sort of thing) because of environmental reasons. Happy to play around with my own diet, a bit nervous to do so with my dog’s.

Wasn’t expecting insect dog food to be so controversial tbh!

[kjhkj]

I'm surprised at the hostility. I think its a great idea and could help tackle climate change etc.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I was planning to ask this question. I eat as much veggie/vegan as I can while my dog eats organic beef and bone from Laverstoke Farm at £2.50 a day

Has the link gone ? I squirt salmon oil on her food because of her skin so I don't think she'd be fussed at the difference

Obviously we should all be helping the planet

[Greengreen88]

I asked for the link to be taken down because people thought this was an ad! It wouldn’t be a very good ad if it was

But if you search “insect dog food” there are only a few brands (I looked) and I haven’t tried any so can’t speak for any.

Yeah same with as much veggie / vegan as I can while the dog gets gourmet, organic meat

I think insect dog food could really solve a problem!

[BiteyShark]

I think insect dog food could really solve a problem!

That's the key isn't it. You (and others) think there is a problem with feeding meat to pets but for me I don't. Therefore I wouldn't swop a perfectly good diet for my dog unless it was for medical reasons.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I think there's an established environmental issue with eating so much meat - it's very hard on the environment.

Loads of scientists are urging us to eat less.

I only buy the best for my dog and if insects and grubs are as nutritionally complete as organic beef and bone then I'm in.

I remember reading a horrible article last year saying our diet as humans was going to radically change and we would be eating far more insects by 2050 (deliberately!) 🤮

[Fucksandflowers]

pets eat something like 20% of the world’s meat and fish production

The natural diet of dogs and cats is fresh meat.
Cats are obligate carnivores so no meat is very dangerous for their health, it can cause blindness and heart failure.
While dogs don't need meat technically, they do much better with it.
Everything about these animals from their digestive tract, stomach PH, jaw construction, teeth, even their personalities is geared towards killing things.

Humans on the other hand do not have a natural meat based diet.
In fact, meat consumption has been linked to cancers and illness in people, eating raw meat like a dog or cat is highly likely to poison and maybe even kill us, our digestive tracts are longer, our teeth are all wrong, most of us are highly distressed by the sight or sound of suffering animals whereas most dogs and cats are actively excited by it...

The solution is surely for everyone to stick to their natural diet..?
No meat for the people and meat for the carnivorous pets?
Or just stop keeping pets if you are that bothered.

To deliberately feed an animal that can't consent and is 100% reliant on you a diet totally different to what they are naturally built to eat, I would go so far to say is abusive.

[kjhkj]

Precisely. It isn't that anyone thinks there is an issue with feeding meat to dogs, its that for the sake of the planet we all need to reduce the amount of meat we eat. Humans are going to naturally be squeamish about the thought of eating insect protein but dogs are not. As such, if the diet is just as good for them then I can't see the issue. We should all be trying to reduce consumption of meat from cows and sheep.

My dog is raw fed. He is still a puppy but he eats a lot of meat.